Seen Around Town: Backstreet’s Back, At the Mall

Just because the Backstreet Boys are big time Las Vegas Strip headliners doesn’t mean they’re too good to make appearances at your local mall.

This Thursday, Nick, um… Nick, and… come on, we know these names… there’s Nick, and there’s… Howie! There’s a Howie, yes. Okay, so, Nick, Howie… we give up. Nick, Howie and the three other Backstreeters are appearing at Sugar Factory inside Fashion Show Mall. Get there at 6 p.m. if you want to see them.

The restaurant must be a Backstreet favorite, because Nick Carter and Howie Dorough celebrated Easter Sunday there, posing for pics and enjoying Sugar Factory’s famed $99 24-scoop King Kong Sundae.

Jo Koy’s Rubik’s Cube Challenge

Comedian Jo Koy spent part of the week hanging out at Yojie, the Japanese fondue restaurant he owns in Village Square at Sahara Avenue and Fort Apache Road. Koy posted a video to Twitter showing him toying with one of his employees by forcing the young man to solve a Rubik’s Cube puzzle in less than 90 seconds. Faced with the (fake) threat of being fired, the employee, Ty, pulled it off.

Celebs Invited to Celebrity Invitational

While it’s so far been a quiet week for sightings in Las Vegas, that’s about to turn around real quick with the arrival of superstar celebs and athletes for the 2017 Derek Jeter Celebrity Invitational.

The tournament – benefiting Jeter’s Turn 2 Foundation — is being held at Shadow Creek Golf Course, but ARIA is hosting the Thursday night gala with headliner T.I. So if you want to see a star, that’s where you need to be.

Among those expected for the tournament: Marcus Allen, Ray Allen, Anthony Anderson, Benjamin Bratt, Brandi Chastain, Don Cheadle, Ronaldinho Gaucho, Bode Miller, baseball hall of famer Ken Griffey Jr. and soon-to-be-inductee Ivan Rodriguez, as well as Jeter’s World Series champion teammates, former New York Yankees Tino Martinez and Jorge Posada.

And speaking of championship athletes, San Francisco 49ers legend Joe Montana will be signing autographs for fans on Friday at Tristar Sports and Celebrity Memorabilia inside the Miracle Mile Shops. Go and ask him about the time he hosted Saturday Night Live.

Get to know the Life Is Beautiful acts. Learn about Downtown's new kaleidoscopic murals. Find tips on how to navigate schedule conflicts. And see what's on the mouthwatering menu. Here is Vegas Seven's guide to tasting, seeing and hearing all the festival has to offer, from the first afternoon set to the final headliner.